R-S Central High School is a beautiful school in the rural foothills of western North Carolina. It is one of three traditional public high schools in Rutherford County. The school serves nearly 750 students. Rutherfordton, Spindale, Chimney Rock, and Lake Lure are just a few of the townships within R-S Central’s footprint. We offer a number of Advanced Placement and Honors level courses, as well as early college opportunities supported through our partnerships with North Carolina Virtual Public Schools (NCVPS) and Isothermal Community College (ICC). All students have access to twenty-first century learning tools, including Promethean boards in every classroom. The school is also a one-to-one laptop school, providing each student with the opportunity to use a MacBook for academic purposes both at school and at home. R-S Central High School’s vision, mission, and beliefs are at the heart of all decisions made within the school. Programs that provide support in reading and test taking skills are implemented to help students reach their potential academically. Extracurricular activities are also integrated within the school culture to ensure that students can reach their potential as well-rounded individuals. Policies and procedures within the school are developed to establish a safe and caring environment where students can be comfortable reaching high standards. All students should leave R-S Central High School with basic knowledge in a variety of subjects and have the soft skills needed to compete in today’s workforce. It is our hope that each student finds success in their post-secondary lives. We strive to ensure our work in continual school improvement will help students to think critically, problem solve, understand the opportunities available to them beyond high school, and contribute positively to the community around them.